Pipe union assembly

ABSTRACT

A pipe union assembly that includes a female end of a first pipe section and a male end of a second pipe section. The pipe union assembly also includes a quick union nut securable to the female end, a retainer collar securable to the quick union nut and a segmented load ring disposed between the male end of the second pipe section and the quick union nut. The quick union nut, the retainer collar and the segmented load ring cooperate to maintain the male end of the second pipe section inside the female end of the first pipe section. A method of using the pipe union assembly to join a first pipe section and a second pipe section.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a conversion of U.S. Provisional Applicationhaving U.S. Serial No. 63/250,733, filed Sep. 30, 2021, which claims thebenefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e). The disclosure of which is herebyexpressly incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a pipe union assembly for moreefficient joinder of two sections of pipe.

2. Description of the Related Art

Frac operations for oil and gas wells requires the handling of fluids atextremely high pressures and flow rates, which requires large ID pipesand pipe junction assemblies. Typically, the pipe junctions includenumerous large locking bolts that extend through flanges extending fromthe pipes. The flanges and the numerous bolts are very large and take upconsiderable space on the trucks that haul them. Further, numerous boltsneeded for each pipe junction requires a considerable amount of time tojoin two sections of pipe together. The use of the flanges and numerouslocking bolts takes a considerable amount of time to assemble anddisassemble a pipe junction or pipe junctions. The current pipejunctions for large ID pipes require welding and stress relieving tomake repairs.

Accordingly, there is a need for a pipe union assembly that permits moreefficient joinder of sections of pipe, allows for repairs to be madewithout the need for welding and stress relieving, and does not requireas many parts, which reduces the weight of the materials for each pipejunction and allows for more space on the trucks.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is directed to a pipe union assembly. The pipeunion assembly includes a female end of a first pipe section and a maleend of a second pipe section. The pipe union assembly also includes aquick union nut securable to the female end, a retainer collar securableto the quick union nut and a segmented load ring disposed between themale end of the second pipe section and the quick union nut. The quickunion nut, the retainer collar and the segmented load ring cooperate tomaintain the male end of the second pipe section inside the female endof the first pipe section.

The present disclosure is also directed to a method of joining a firstpipe section and a second pipe section. The method includes employingthe pipe union assembly to secure the first and second pipe sectionstogether.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of a pipe union assemblyconstructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A is an exploded, perspective view of the pipe union assemblyconstructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the pipe union assembly constructedin accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the pipe union assembly constructedin accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the pipe unionassembly shown in FIG. 3A constructed in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a pipe unionassembly constructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the pipe unionassembly shown in FIG. 4A constructed in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Referring now to FIGS. 1A-2B, the present disclosure relates to a pipeunion assembly 10 for coupling two sections of pipe 12 together. Thedesign of the pipe union assembly 10 disclosed herein provides manybenefits. There are less parts in the pipe union assembly 10, whichpermits material for more unions and other equipment to be hauled on atruck. The pipe union assembly 10 design allows for repairs to be madewithout the need for welding and stress relieving and reduces the timeneeded to connect to sections of pipe 12. The pipe union assembly 10includes a quick union nut 14 securable to a female end 16 of a firstpipe section 12 a, a retainer collar 18 securable to the quick union nut14, and a segmented load ring 20 disposable around a portion of a maleend 22 of a second pipe section 12 b.

The quick union nut 14 can have a first end 24 and a second end 26. Thefirst end 24 having threads 28 on the inside that engage threads 30disposed on the outside 32 of the female end 16 of the first pipesection 12 a. The second end 26 of the quick union nut 14 can havethreads disposed on the outside to engage with the retainer collar 18.The inner diameter of the second end 26 of the quick union nut 14 can belarger than the outer diameter of the male end 22 of the second sectionof pipe 12 b to permit the segmented load ring 20 to be disposed betweenthe second end 26 of the quick union nut 14 and the male end 22 of thesecond section of pipe 12 b.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the first end 24 of thequick union nut 14 can have radial directed holes 36 (threaded orunthreaded) that permit screws 38 to extend therethrough and engagethreaded depressions 40 (or holes that do not extend all the waythrough) disposed in the female end 16 of the first pipe section 12 a.In another embodiment, the female end 16 of the of the first pipesection 12 a can include a circumferential groove (not shown) disposedtherein that the screws 38 can engage to prevent axial movement of thequick union nut 14. The screws 38, when engaged with the depressions 40or groove in the female end 16 of the first pipe section 12 a, preventthe quick union nut 14 from rotating and coming loose from the firstpipe section 12 a. In a further embodiment, the first end 24 of thequick union nut 14 can have a threadless portion 44 that extends beyondthe threads 28 on the inside of the quick union nut 14 that the radialdirected holes 36 extend through, and the depressions 40 in the femaleend 16 of the first pipe section 12 a are disposed in a part of thefirst pipe section 12 a that does not have threads. In yet anotherembodiment of the present disclosure, the radial directed holes 36 andthe depressions 40 or groove in the female end 16 of the first pipesection 12 a are placed such that when the quick union nut 14 isthreaded a certain amount onto the first pipe section 12 a, the radialdirected holes 36 in the first end 24 of the quick union nut 14 and thedepressions 40 or groove in the female end 16 of the first pipe section12 a are in alignment, which allows the screws 38 to extend through thefirst end 24 of the quick union nut 14 and engage the threadeddepressions 40 or groove in the female end 16 of the first pipe section12 a.

The retainer collar 18 can have a first end 46 with threads 48 disposedon an inside portion 50 to engage the threads 52 on the outer portion 54of the second end 26 of the quick union nut 14 and a flanged second end56 that extends radially inward towards the male end 22 of the secondpipe section 12 b and engages with a part of the segmented load ring 20.The terminal end 58 of the flanged second end 56 of the retainer collar18 has an inner diameter that is sized such that the retainer collar 18can be slid onto the male end 22 of the second pipe section 12 b. Theretainer collar 18 is not securely attached directly to the male end 22of the second pipe section 12 b.

The geometry of the female end 16 of the first pipe section 12 a and themale end 22 of the second pipe section 12 b can have some uniquegeometries. In one embodiment, the female end 16 of the first pipesection 12 a can have a first inner diameter 60 that is essentially thesame as the inner diameter of the male end 22 of the second pipe section12 b. The female end 16 of the first pipe section 12 a can have a secondinner diameter 62 that extends from a terminal end 64 of the first pipesection 12 a to a shoulder 66. The shoulder 66 is where the first innerdiameter 60 of the female end 16 of the first pipe section 12 atransitions to the second inner diameter 62 of the female end 16 of thefirst pipe section 12 a and one area where a terminal end 68 of the maleend 22 of the second pipe section 12 b engages the female end 16 of thefirst pipe section 12 a.

The male end 22 of the second pipe section 12 b can have a first outerdiameter 70 that is designed to fit inside the second inner diameter 62section of the female end 16 of the first pipe section 12 a and extendsfrom the terminal end 68 of the male end 22 of the second pipe section12 b to a shoulder 72. The shoulder 72 of the male end 22 of the secondpipe section 12 b is where the terminal end 64 of the first pipe section12 a can abut. The shoulder 68 of the male end 22 of the second pipesection 12 b also provides a transition area to a second outer diameter76 of the male end 22 of the second pipe section 12 b. The male end 22of the second pipe section 12 b can also have a third outer diameter 78and an angled portion 80 that transitions from the second outer diameter76 to the third outer diameter 78. The angled portion 80 transitionsfrom a larger diameter for the second outer diameter 76, to a smallerdiameter for the third outer diameter 78. The terminal end 58 of theretainer collar 18 has an inner diameter that is large enough to passover the second outer diameter 76 of the male end 22 of the second pipesection 12 b.

The segmented load ring 20 can be made of at least two parts to permitthe segmented load ring 20 to be able to be radially disposed at leastpartially between the third inner diameter 78 section of the male end 22of the second pipe section 12 b and the second end 26 of the quick unionnut 14. The segmented load ring 20 can have a first inner diameter 82that engages with the third outer diameter section 78 of the male end 22of the second pipe section 12 b and a second inner diameter 84 thatengages with the second outer diameter section 76 of the male end 22 ofthe second pipe section 12 b. The segmented load ring 20 has a slantedsection 86 where the inner diameter of the segmented load ring 20transitions from the first inner diameter 82 to the second innerdiameter 84. The segmented load ring 20 can have a first axial side 88and a second axial side 90. The first axial side 88 terminates betweenthe second end 26 of the quick union nut 14 and the second outerdiameter section 76 of the male end 22 of the second pipe section 12 b.The second axial side 90 engages the flanged second end 56 of theretainer collar 18. When the retainer collar 18 is tightened on thesecond end 26 of the quick union nut 14, the slanted section 86 of thesegmented load ring 20 engages the angled portion 80 of the male end 22of the second pipe section 12 b. As the retainer collar 18 is furthertightened, the slanted section 86 and the angled portion 80 force thesegmented load ring 20 outward in a radial direction, which causes thethreaded engagement between the retainer collar 18 and the quick unionnut 14 to be further secured.

The pipe union assembly 10 can also include a sealing mechanism 92between the female end 16 of the first pipe section 12 a and the maleend 22 of the second pipe section 12 b. In one embodiment shown in FIGS.4A and 4B, the sealing mechanism 92 can be at least one sealing member94 disposed circumferentially around, or embedded in, the first outerdiameter section 70 of the male end 22 of the second pipe section 12 bthat is inserted into the female end 16 of the first pipe section 12 a.In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the male end 22 of thesecond pipe section 12 b can have a fourth outer diameter section 96that is immediately adjacent to the terminal end 68 of the male end 22of the second pipe section 12 b. In this embodiment, the sealing member94 can be disposed circumferentially around the fourth outer diametersection 96 of the male end 22 of the second pipe section 12 b.

The present disclosure is also directed to a method of joining twosections of pipe using the pipe union assembly 10 described herein. Morespecifically, the pipe union assembly 10 can be used to join the femaleend 16 of a first pipe section 12 a and the second pipe section 12 b.The quick union nut 14 can be threaded onto the female end 16 of thefirst pipe section 12 a. The retainer collar 18 can be disposed aroundthe male end 22 of the second pipe section 12 b and the male end 22 ofthe second pipe section 12 b can begin to be inserted into the femaleend 16 of the first pipe section 12 a. The segmented load ring 20 can bedisposed around the male end 22 of the second pipe section 12 b andinside the quick union nut 14. The retainer collar 18 can then bethreaded onto the quick union nut 14 to secure the pipe sections 12 aand 12 b together.

From the above description, it is clear that the present disclosure iswell-adapted to carry out the objectives and to attain the advantagesmentioned herein as well as those inherent in the disclosure. Whilepresently preferred embodiments have been described herein, it will beunderstood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished withinthe spirit of the disclosure and claims.

1. A pipe union assembly, the pipe union assembly comprising: a femaleend of a first pipe section and a male end of a second pipe section; aquick union nut securable to the female end; a retainer collar securableto the quick union nut, the retainer collar includes a flanged secondend that extends radially inward toward the male end of the second pipesection; a segmented load ring disposed between the male end of thesecond pipe section and the quick union nut, the segmented load ringengaged by the flanged second end of the retainer collar in an axialdirection; and wherein the quick union nut, the retainer collar and thesegmented load ring cooperate to maintain the male end of the secondpipe section inside the female end of the first pipe section.
 2. Thepipe union assembly of claim 1 wherein the segmented load ring is madeup of multiple parts.
 3. The pipe union assembly of claim 1 wherein thesegmented load ring is made of two parts.
 4. The pipe union assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the male end of the second pipe section includes anangled portion where the outside diameter of the male end of the secondpipe section is reduced.
 5. The pipe union assembly of claim 4 whereinthe segmented load ring has a slanted section disposed on an insideportion that engages with the angled portion of the male end of thesecond pipe section.
 6. The pipe union assembly of claim 1 wherein thequick union nut is threadably secured to the female end of the firstpipe section and the quick union nut is threadably secured to theretainer collar when the pipe sections are secured together. 7.(canceled)
 8. (canceled)
 9. The pipe union assembly of claim 1 whereinthe male end of the first pipe section includes a first diametersection, a second diameter section and a third diameter section whereinan inner diameter of the segmented load ring is smaller than the firstand third diameter sections of the male end of the first pipe section.10. The pipe union assembly of claim 7 wherein the retainer collar onlycontacts the quick union nut and the segmented load ring.
 11. A methodof joining a first pipe section and a second pipe section, the methodcomprising: employing a pipe union assembly to secure the first andsecond pipe sections together, the pipe union assembly comprising: afemale end of a first pipe section and a male end of a second pipesection; a quick union nut securable to the female end; a retainercollar securable to the quick union nut,the retainer collar includes aflanged second end that extends radially inward toward the male end ofthe second pipe section; a segmented load ring disposed between the maleend of the second pipe section and the quick union nut, the segmentedload ring engaged by the flanged second end of the retainer collar in anaxial direction; and wherein the quick union nut, the retainer collarand the segmented load ring cooperate to maintain the male end of thesecond pipe section inside the female end of the first pipe section. 12.The method of claim 11 further comprising: securing the quick union nutto the female end of the first pipe section; positioning the retainercollar over the male end of the second pipe section; positioning thesegmented load ring around male end of the second pipe section andinside a part of the quick union nut; and securing the retainer collarto the quick union nut.
 13. The method of claim 11 wherein the segmentedload ring is made up of multiple parts.
 14. The method of claim 11wherein the segmented load ring is made of two parts.
 15. The method ofclaim 11 wherein the male end of the second pipe section includes anangled portion where the outside diameter of the male end of the secondpipe section is reduced.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein thesegmented load ring has a slanted section disposed on an inside portionthat engages with the angled portion of the male end of the second pipesection.
 17. The method of claim 11 wherein the quick union nut isthreadably secured to the female end of the first pipe section and thequick union nut is threadably secured to the retainer collar when thepipe sections are secured together.
 18. (canceled)
 19. (canceled) 20.The method of claim 11 wherein the male end of the first pipe sectionincludes a first diameter section, a second diameter section and a thirddiameter section wherein an inner diameter of the segmented load ring issmaller than the first and third diameter sections of the male end ofthe first pipe section.
 21. The pipe union assembly of claim 1 furthercomprising at least two sealing members disposed between the female endof the first pipe section and the male end of the second pipe section.22. The method of claim 11 wherein the pipe union assembly furthercomprises at least two sealing members disposed between the female endof the first pipe section and the male end of the second pipe section.